Plant for distributing air under pressure and in constituting parts thereof



Mamh 1944- c. R. WASEIGE ,345, 82

PLANT FOR DISTRIBUTING AIR UNDER PRESSURE AND IN CONSTITUTING PARTS THEREOF Flled March 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 e m 3 r4 aw 6 F 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ue/z March 1944- c. R. WASEIGE PLANT FOR DISTRIBUTING AIR UNDER PRESSURE AND IN CONSTITUTING PARTS THEREOF Filed March 6, 1941 gu lmwammH Patented Mar. 1944 UNlTED STATES PATENT orries PLANT FOR DISTRIBUTING AIR, UNDER PRESSURE AND IN CON STITUTING PARTS THEREOF Charles Raymond Waseige, Ruell-Malmaison,

France; vested in the Alien Property Custo- Application March 6, 1941, Serial No. 382,106

In France March 6, 1940 4 Claims.

require air under a much lower pressure, for

insctince between 150 to 300 pounds per square in It has already been proposed to connect the distributing circuits of such plants with a common compressed air reservoir filled from a generator or a bank of generators with air under the highest pressure and connected by means of pressure reducing valves with the circuit or circuits at lower pressure. This arrangement has the drawback that it requires one or several generators of such substantial power as to be able to fulfill simultaneously the needs of various circuits which may have to be used simultaneously.

on the other hand, it is usual to interpose between the permanently drlven generator or generators and the high pressure reservoir of an air distributing plant 'a control valve, or regulator, arranged to automatically connect the delivery of-said generator or generators witha release outlet, usually leading to the open air, when the pressure in the reservoir attains a maximum limit value and to again comiect it with said ruervoir when the pressure therein becomes lower than a predetermined minimum value, the latter being however higher than the air pressure in the low pressure circuit or circuits.

One object of the present invention is to provide an air distributing plant of the aforesaid kind comprising at least such a control valve between the generator or generators and the high pressure reservoir and arranged so as to require only one or several generators the power of which is substantially smaller than that of the heretofore known plants, and adapted to supply in an entirely automatic manner air under diiferent pressures to at least two circuits.

A plant constructed in accordance with this invention is essentially characterized in that the release of said control valve is connected with one or all of the low pressure circuits.

Under these conditions, as soon as the maximum pressure obtains in the high pressure reservoir, the delivery of the generator or generators feeds through said control valve the low pressure circuit, which usually also comprises a reservoir, and said high pressure is again connected with the generator or generators, as soon as the pressure therein falls under the lower limit.

The air generator or generators are thus rationally utilized in a more continuous manner than in the usual plants.

The plant comprises advantageously besides the aforesaid control and relief valves a pressure reducing valve branched between the delivery circuit of the generator or generators and the low pressure circuit, so as to secure the feeding of said circuit during the rise of pressure in the high pressure reservoir.

The relief valve of the low pressure circuit may be arranged in parallel or in series with the conduit feeding the low pressure or other reservoir.

In the latter case, it is advantageously combined with an automatic distributing valve con-' necting the release passage of the control valve with the open air while at the same time disconnecting the reducing valve if it is desired that the low pressure circuit will notbe supplied.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the reducing valve and the relief are embodied into a single apparatus, called automatic release reducing valve, connected both with the high pressure circuit and the low pressure circuit.

This automatic discharge reducing valve may advantageously comprise a chamber which is connected with the low pressure circuit and a wall of which is movable and urged against the pressure in this circiut by a resilient member, said movable wall controlling two combined valves through which said chamber is respectively connected with the high pressure air inlet passage and a release pasage, the whole being so balanced that this wall only opens the first valve when the pressure in said chamber becomes lower than a predetermined value and only opens the second valve after the closure of the first one and when the pressure in the chamber exceeds a second predetermined value substantially higher than the first value.

A single resilient member thus assures the control of the low pressure and avoids any overlapping in the operation of the high pressure air inlet and release valves, which might otherwise cause a continuous release of air.

The simplification thus effected may further be increased, according to another feature of the invention, by combining the automatic release control- Other features and advantages of the invention will :be apparent from the following description with reference to the annexed drawings, showing preferred embodiments by way of example, in which: a

Fig. 1 shows a plant constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a modification in which use is made of an automatic release reducing valve;

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a combined controlling and reducing valve.

In order to simplify the description, the usual accessories of the plant, such as decanters, filters, diaphragms, cutting-out valves or cocks, etc., have not been shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and it is assumed that the plant comprises only two distributing circuits.

In accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the plant comprises for feeding with air a high pressure reservoir I and a low pressure reservoir 2, and air compressor or generator 3 for producing air under high pressure, a control valve 4 comprising inlet, outlet and release passages 6, I and 8, a pressure reducing valve II with inlet and outlet passages II and I2 and a distributing valve I4 having two inlet passages I5 and I6, one outlet passage I1 and one release passage I8. A conduit I9 connects the discharge of the generator 3 with the inlet passage 6 of control valve 4 and the inlet passage I I of reducing valve III. The reservoirs I and 2 are connected through conduits and 2| with the outlet passages 1 and ll of control valve 4 and distributing valve I4, respectively. Conduits 22 and 23 connect the inlet passages I5 and II of distributing valve I4 with the release passage 0 of control valve 4 and the outlet passage I2 of reducing valve Ill.

The control valve 4, of a known type, com prises a chamber 24 with which the inlet passage 6 communicates through a non-return valve 25 and into which opens the outlet passage 1. A duct 26 opening into the passage I beyond the non-return valve 25 leads to the release passage 8. Inserted in this duct 26 is a valve 2! serving to close it normally and connected by a stem to a lever 30 pivoting, at one end, on a fixed pin {I and, at the other end, on a movable system 32 serving as a piston and urged by the opposing actions of a calibrated spring and the pressure in the chamber 24. A wedge-like cam 35 rigidly connected to the lever 30 so as to rotate with the latter round the pin 3| co-operates with a follower roller pressed against the periphery of said cam by a spring 41. v

The pressure reducing valve IO,- which is also of a known type, comprises a chamber into which opens the low pressure air outlet passage I2. Said chamber forms one end of a cylinder the piston 42 of which carries a sealing cup 43 and is subjected to the aforesaid low pressure of air acting against the action of a spring 44 retained by a cap 45 screwed upon the housing of said valve.

spring 53 is seated at one end, in a head 54 se-- cured to the housing III and, at-the other end, in a sliding sleeve 55 containing the valve proper 41.

The distributing valve I4 comprises a chamber- 50 into which open the inlet and outlet passages I5, II. This chamber 60 is connected through valves 68, 64 with the release passage I8, usually opening into the atmosphere, and the air inlet passage I8, respectively. The seats of these two valvesare integral with the valve body. Valve 63 is urged towards its seat, against the pressure of air in chamber 80, by a suitably calibrated spring 58 engaging with a nipple-like head 51 provided with the passage I8. Valve 84 is arranged in a similar way. Both valves are provided with stems projecting through the seats thereof and co-operating with a cam 10 which is rigidly secured upon a shaft II and so shaped that it opens either the one or the other of the valves according to whether the position it assumes is that shown in the drawings (valve 64 being then opened) or the symmetrical position. A hand lever (not shown) secured to the shaft ll controls the rotation of the cam 10.

The operation is as follows:

Air delivered by the generator 3 into the conduit I! is admitted through the latter into the inlet passages 8 and II of the control valve and the reducing valve.

As long as reservoir I is not under full pressure:

1. The valve 28 provided inside the control valve is closed and air under pressure passing through the non-return valve 25 leaves the control valve through the outlet 1 and is led to the said reservoir I by the conduit 20.

2. The air admitted by the conduit II may or may not enter into the chamber 40 through the valve 41 which is opened or closed according as whether or not the pressure in this chamber .is higher than the pressure value that would exert upon the piston 42 a thrust counterbalancing the force exerted on the other side of said piston by the spring 44. This pressure value, substantially lower than the pressure in the conduit I I, is that of the air leaving the reducing valve by the conduit 23 leading to the inlet I5 of distributing valve I4. The position of the parts of the latter valve is as shown in Fig. 1; hence compressed air flows out of said distributing valve through outlet I1 and is led by conduit 2! to reservoir 2.

As soon as the pressure obtaining in the reservoir I attains its predetermined maximum limit value, the force exerted by the air upon piston 32 of control valve 4 counter-balances the opposing elastic forces and causes said piston to slide towards the right as shown in Fig. l, the cam 35 acting as a latch. The valve 28 is then opened and the passage 6 is connected with the release I, the non-return valve 25 disconnecting said passage from chamber 24 and reservoir I. The air delivered by the compressor is then transferred by conduit 22 to the distributing valve I4 and thence, through conduit 2|, to reservoir 2. The relief valve 53 prevents the pressure in conduits H and 22 from exceeding the pressure value corresponding to the calibration of its spring 66, which is substantially lower than the pressure of air supplied to reservoir I and slightly higher than the pressure of air supplied by the reducing the circuit, it is only necessary to rotate the cam or the distributing valve I4 through a halfrevolution, by means of the hand leverwcarried by the shaft II. This closes the valve member 04, thus isolating the reducing valve I0, and

opens the relief valve 02. The release passage 0 of control valve 4 is then permanently connected with the open air.

In accordance with the modification shown in Fig. 2, a reducing valve with automatic release 00 comprising an inlet passage II, an outlet passage I2 and a release passage 0|, usually connected with the open air, is provided instead oi the reducing and distributing valves according to the embodiment previously described. The control valve 4, oi' the same type as that already de- .scribed, to the inlet passage of which the conduit I0 delivering air from the generator is connected, has its outlet passage leading through a conduit to the high pressure reservoir I and m the inlet passage II of automatic release pressure reducing valve 80. The release passage of the control valve 4 is connected by a conduit 22-20 with the outlet passage I2 of reducing valve 00 and the low pressure reservoir 2.

The reducing valve comprises a chamber 'into which opens the outlet passage I 2. One wailof this chamber 40 is formed by a piston 42 the periphery of which is connected by an undulated sleeve-like diaphragm 88 to an outer shoulder 04 of the side wall 85 or said chamber 40. Acting on the piston 42 against the pressure exerted thereon by the air contained in chamber 40 is a spring 44 urging same towards a seat 00 formed at the end 0! the side wall st. The spring enases on the one hand with the outer side ofpiston 42 and on the other hand with the bottom of a sleeve cap screwed on the body of valve 00. The outer side of piston 42 is subjected to the pressure of air in the release passage 0| with which the part or the body which contains it communicates through a port 80.

The inlet passage II is provided in a separated nipple 00 tightly sealing the bottom 01' chamber 40. As an extension of the passage II is formed in said nipple 80 a cylindrical lodgment 0| coaxial with the piston 42. A valve member 41 is slidably mounted in this lodgment 0i which encloses a spring 02 urging said member towards its seat 93 provided on a part 04 screwed onto the end of nipple 00 projecting into chamber 40. The

I00 and into which opens the passage 1 valve member 41 is extended by a central stem I formed by the end of a screw I04 mounted in the bottom of cap 45. Said screw I04 is adjusted so that the stem I02 engages therewith as the valve member 41 is applied upon its seat 00. A protecting hood I01 surrounds the whole device.

The operation is as iollows: Duringtheriseoipressureinreservoir Loompressed air supplied to this reservoir is simultaneously admitted into the inlet passage II or reducing valve 00. The latterthen operates as a usual pressure reducing valve, 1. e., the valve member 41 is held in its opening position by the piston 42 as long as the pressure in chamber 40 connecting with reservoir 2 remains lower than the calibrated pressure of the spring 52. As soon as this pressure is attained, however, the valve member 41 will be applied upon its seat 02 by said spring 00, after which the same process will be efiected as the air pressure becomes lower, so that the reservoir 2 is supplied with air at the low pressure required.

v the pressure of airin the reservoir I reaches the maximum limit value or control valve 4, the latter disconnects the conduit 20 and connects the compressed air inlet conduit I0 and the release conduit 22 supplying the reservoir 2 by means of the conduit 20, one end of which opens the chamber 40. when the pressure oi. air in thIs chamber 40 rises, the piston 42 is shifted against the counteraction or spring 44, so that beyond a fixed limit, as the stem I02 strikes against the end I00 of the screw I04, the holes I00 are uncovered by the valve member 88 and connect the chamber 40 with the release 0i. There is thus obtained a relief valve preventing any excess or pressure in the conduit 20 on which It is branched.

it"ig. 2. This new apparatus comprises four passage couplings, namely an inlet passage 0 arranged to be connected with the generator, two outlet passages I and I2 arranged to be connected with the high and low pressure reservoirs, respectively, and a release passage 8i, usuallyconnected with the open air.

The inlet Passage 0 opens into a chamber IIO connecting through a non-return valve 20 with I chamber III extending the whole length of ,the

connected with th high pressure reservoir. Between the'chambers H0 and III is provided an intermediate chamber II2 into which opens the passage I2 connected with the low pressure circuit. The connection between the chambers H0 and H2 is secured through the valve member 20 which is a part of a control valve and forms the release valve of the same. While this control valve may be of the same type as that shown in Fig. 1, it has been shown herein as being of a diilerent construction.

According to this embodiment, the valve 20 is not balanced and it carries a stem II4 engaging with a wall I I0 formed as a plunger piston which moves in the direction oi. the shifting motion or the valve 20 and a side of which is secured in an airtight manner to a bellows-like resilient sleeve ill the other end or which is connected with the periphery of a-hole I20 opening into the chamber III. The piston H0 is provided with a flange on which is resting a pring I22 urging said piston in the direction of the closing movement at valve 20. w

-lhe chambers iii and H2 are connected to-' Ietber through a valve I! which is the inlet valve oi a reducing valve or the automatic release type shown in Pig. 2 and is shown only in a schematic manner in Fig. 3. The parts of this reducing valve are contained in a chamber I25 into which opens the release passage II and in which is slidably mounted a piston 42 provided with the seat of a valve 9! combined with the valve 41 to which it is connected by a stem OI. A light sprihg 53 tends to move both valves in thedirection of their seats. That side of piston 42 opposite the two valve members SI, 41 is subjected to the pressure obtaining in chamber 2, which is transmitted to it through the hole I21 surrounding the stem 85, air-tightness being secured by a resilient sleeve-like diaphragm it connecting the periphery of this piston to a shoulder provided around the hole I21. The piston 42 is subjected to the pressure of air in chamber H2 in counteraction to a spring 4| resting upon the bottom of chamber I25.

The operation is as follows:

During the rise of pressure in the high pressure reservoir and as long as the air pressure therein has not attained the maximum limit value, the valve 28 is closed and air admitted into the apparatus by the passage 6 enters into the chamber lil through the non-return valve 25. A portion of this air is directed towards the reservoir through the passage i and another portion is reduced in pressure while passing through th chamber H2 and conducted towards the low pressure reservoir through the passage l2. This reduction of pressure is efiected exactly as described relatively to the previous examples, the opening and the closing of valve 41 being controlled by the piston 42.

As soon as the pressure in the reservoir and therefore in the chamber Ill attains its upper limit value, the thrust exerted by the air pressure against the piston H6 counterbalances the forces exerted by spring I22 on said piston and by the pressure of the air in chamber on the valve member 28. The latter opens suddenly and the forces exerted on both sides thereof are then equalized. As the chambers Ill! and H2 arenow connected by the valve 28, there occurs a substantial drop of pressure in the first chamber and rise of pressure in the second chamber supplying the low pressure circuit. Owing to this r se of pressure the piston 42 is shifted against the action of the spring 44, the valve 41 is closed and the valve l2 acts as a relief valve as described in the previous embodiment. When the pressure in the chamber I I I connected with the high pressure reservoir becomes sutliciently low so that it may be counterbalanced by the spring I22, the valve 28 is returned upon its seat and the cycle is repeated.

The invention is, of course, in nowise limited to the embodiments shown and described as examples, and it is particularly obvious that,

therefore aim in the appended claims tocom all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A compressed gas-distributing plant, more particularly for use on board aircraft, comprising at least one gas compressor, at least twogas circuits adapted to be supplied by said compressor at substantially different pressures and called high pressure circuit and low pressure circuit, a high pressure reservoir and an unloader system in said high pressure circuit, said unloader system being mounted between said compressor and said reservoir and provided with an outlet passage, said system being arranged to automatically con nect the delivery of the compressor and said passage in response to the pressure in said reservoir reaching a predetermined value, and connecting means between said outlet opening and the low pressure circuit.

2. A compressed gas distributing plant more particularly for use on board aircraft comprising at least one gas compressor, at'least two gas circuits adapted to be supplied by said compressor at substantially different pressures and called high pressure and low pressure circuits, a high pressure reservoir and an unloader system in said high pressure circuit, said unloader system being mounted between said compressor and said reservoir and provided with an outlet passage adapted to be automatically connected to the delivery of the compressor in response to the pressure of the reservoir reaching a predetermined value, connecting means between said outlet opening and the low pressure circuit, further means connecting the high pressure circuit, between said compressor and said system and the low pressure circuit, and a reducing valve in said further means adapted to feed the low pressure circuit during the rise of pressure of the reservoir.

3. A compressor gas distributing plant, more particularly for use on board aircraft comprising at least one gas compressor, at least two gas circuits adapted to be supplied by said compressor at substantially different pressures and Called high pressure circuit, and low pressure circuit, a high pressure reservoir and an unloader system in said high pressure circuit, said unloader system being mounted between the compressor and the reservoir and provided with an outlet passage adapted to be automatically connected to the delivery of the compressor in response to the pressure of the reservoir reaching a predetermined value, connecting means between said outlet opening and the low pressure circuit, a distributing system in said connecting means, further means connecting said distributing system with the high pressure circuit, between the compressor and the unloading system, a reducing valve in said further means, said distributing without departing from the scope of said invention, there may be introduced into the various circuits the usual accessories such as diaphragms, valves, cutting-out, blow-off or coupling devices, filters. cleaners and the like.

While I have described what I at present consider preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention, and I system including two valve members mounted to obturate respectively a discharge port and said further means, and operating means for said members arranged to simultaneously open the discharge and obturate the said further means when it is desired that the low pressure circuit will not be supplied.

4. A compressed gas distributing plant as claimed in in claim 3 in which said operating means includes a single control member cooperating with both said valves.

CHARLES RAYMOND WASEIGE. 

